France, Germany, US Speak Out Against Ukraine Violence

France, Germany and the United States are taking a united stance against the deadly violence in Ukraine.

During a joint news conference Wednesday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Paris, French President Francois Hollande called for "quick and targeted sanctions against those responsible for oppression" in Ukraine.

Ms. Merkel said EU foreign ministers will discuss what sanctions could be implemented against Kyiv at a meeting Thursday in Brussels.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met his French counterpart in Paris. Kerry said the French foreign minister will join those from Germany and Poland in Kyiv early Thursday to gather the latest information before their meeting in Brussels.

Kerry said he was talking with EU partners about the possibility of sanctions and other actions "in order to create the environment for compromise" between Ukraine's government and the opposition.

The secretary of state added Washington and Paris are convinced violence in Kyiv can be avoided and the aspirations of the people of Ukraine can be met.

Meanwhile in Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov condemned the deadly Ukraine protests as a "coup attempt." He denied claims President Vladimir Putin was giving advice to Ukraine's president on how to handle the crisis and reiterated that Moscow would not interfere with the Ukraine's internal affairs.